About 20 percent of Americans suffer from chronic pain. But it is not an incurable disease. Combining ketamine and other pain management techniques can give you the relief that you need
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What's chronic pain?
Johns Hopkins experts say chronic pain is a long-lasting, persistent pain that persists past the normal recovery period or is related to a chronic condition like arthritis. Chronic pain can be either intermittent or continuous. This can cause people to be unable to work, eat well, exercise or live normally.
What's Ketamine?
Ketamine was originally developed as a Vietnam war anesthetic in 1960. It is now a treatment that can treat mental illness and chronic pain. Ketamine defends against pain by counteracting a specific chemical receptor (N-methyl-D-aspartate), NMDA, which is found in the nervous system and helps to modulate pain. Ketamine interacts with other receptors so it can be used in a wider variety of clinical settings.
What causes chronic pain?
Chronic pain can sometimes be caused by something more obvious like cancer or arthritis. Sometimes injuries or diseases can lead to bodily changes that increase your vulnerability to pain. Some changes can remain even after injuries or illnesses have healed. A sprain, fracture, or other injury can cause chronic pain.
An injury or illness can also cause chronic pain.
Who are you part of your Chronic Pain Management team
It is important to be determined to improve your pain management skills. To diagnose and create a treatment plan, a team of mental and health professionals must work together. A primary care provider, an addiction specialist or pain physician could be part of the team. Other behavioral specialists, such as counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers, may be added to the team.
Ketamine to Manage Chronic Pain
Ketamine can be helpful for two types: chronic pain patients who have not experienced the positive outcomes from other treatments or medications, and those who are preparing for surgery.
The use of ketamine to manage chronic pain is a common treatment for conditions like cancer, neuropathic pains and phantom pains. It can also be used to treat complex regional pain syndromes such as fibromyalgias and postherpetic neuralgias.
Anesthetic ketamine can help with many chronic pain conditions, especially those that have a neuropathic component. Low-dose ketamine may be able to provide strong pain relief for neuropathic pain by blocking the Nmethyl D-aspartate-receptor. There may be other mechanisms involved such as the enhancement of descending inhibition and anti-inflammatory effects at central sites. Short-term data shows that ketamine doesn't produce strong pain relief after administration. Long-term infusions of ketamine (4-14 days) were found to increase long-term pain relief in three studies.
The same report states that further testing is required to confirm the effectiveness of ketamine.
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, ketamine can be used in perioperative situations to lower pain scores and reduce opioid dependence. With mild to no side effects, perioperative ketamine can be used to reduce nausea and vomiting. It is best for surgeries that have high levels of postoperative pain.
Diagnose and Treatment
Your healthcare provider may recommend testing to determine the cause of your pain. These tests can be done on you:
- Blood tests.
- To measure muscle activity, Electromyography can be used.
- Imaging tests like MRIs and X-rays.
- To determine if your nerve conduction is working properly, test it.
- Balance and reflex testing
- Tests of spinal fluid.
- Urine tests
A psychiatrist may be referred depending on your medical history. Sometimes there may be a psychological component to your pain. This will help you choose the best treatment.
Different therapies, medicines, and ketamine therapy can be used to treat the condition.
Final Thoughts
If you are concerned about chronic pain, it is important that you consult your doctor. The best approach to pain management is to take a holistic approach. This treatment plan may include Ketamine. Renew Ketamine Infusion is the best option for you if you need ketamine infusion therapy Orange County. Book an online consultation with your doctor to discuss your medical history and treatment goals. We will determine if you are a suitable candidate for ketamine therapy.
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